Ooh, Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS (AP) – Presidential candidate Barack Obama has won the support of the 60,000- member Culinary Workers Union in Nevada, a major coup for the Democrat that could boost his candidacy against Hillary Rodham Clinton in the party’s major nominating contest.

The Nevada Chapter of the Service Employees International Union is also siding with Obama.

Tough news for John Edwards, whose supports rests on the three-legged stool of labor, trial lawyers (money), and really, really angry people

Three groups conducting independent expenditure campaigns in behalf of Clinton – Emily’s List, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) – have explored the possibility of trying to put together a multi-million dollar effort privately dubbed the Anybody-But-Obama 527 Committee, but they have run into problems finding any Democratic operative willing to become the director of a campaign against the man who now is the odds-on favorite to become the party’s nominee.

Solidarity, forever.

UPDATE (6:25 p.m.): The UNITE HERE news release. “As President, he will fight for and sign into law the Employee Free Choice Act, an increase in the minimum wage, and affordable health care for every American.” Yes, the destruction of the secret ballot in the workplace via the Employee Free Choice Act is THE priority for organized labor this election cycle.